Du Quoin looking to update its hiring policy

DU QUOIN -- A new city ordinance addressing the hiring policy for water and street department employees is in the works and will be on public display for the next couple of weeks before the City Council votes on the measure.

Mayor Guy Alongi explained that police officers and firefighters are recommended for hire by their respective merit boards based on a built-in rating system that addresses physical abilities, as well as educational background and life experiences.

There is no such rating system for water and street department hires.

Alongi said the goal is to get the best person for each job that is available, and that both of the city's commissioners -- Bob Karnes over streets and Chuck Genesio over water and sewer -- must take it upon themselves to be actively "engaged" in their departments before making any hiring recommendations to the City Council.

"We want to take politics out of the equation when making a hire," the mayor said. "We owe it to our taxpayers to have good, qualified employees."

Alongi said there are 37 city employees in all, 30 of whom are full-time workers. It breaks down to 12 police officers, seven firefighters, four street department workers, four water department workers and three sewer department workers. There is presently one full-time spot open with the police department following the recent resignation of Chief Les Vancil.

Only one of the 37 employees is a minority. Another recently retired.

"I would like to see more minorities apply for jobs when they are open," Alongi said. "Too often, they don't."